Talented Tigers to test Gators

D.J. Thomas will lead Baker School’s offense against Graceville High School Friday night.

RANDY DICKSON / News Bulletin

By RANDY DICKSON / News Bulletin

Published: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 05:34 PM.

BAKER — Coming off a 14-0 win over Jay in Friday night's Kickoff Classic, Baker School’s football team turned its focus to Friday's season opener when the Gators host Graceville. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Baker Coach Matt Brunson said there were no surprises in the win over the Royals.

"It was a typical Kickoff Classic setting," he said. "Everybody got to play. We are proud of everybody's efforts, and in our varsity half we were able to scratch out a 14-0 win.

"We forced a couple of turnovers and ground it out offensively. I felt like we did what we went over there to do, and we looked good doing it. Hopefully, we can build on the momentum that success brought us."

The Gators scored on an 11-yard pass from Jon Beck to Kodi Moen in the third quarter. D.J. Thomas scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter.

"We only gave up one first down and 30-something yards," Brunson said. "They only had something like 14 offensive plays, and we grounded out 37 plays."

The Gators can't let up against a tough Tiger squad that went 8-3 last season and won the District 2-1A title.

BAKER — Coming off a 14-0 win over Jay in Friday night's Kickoff Classic, Baker School’s football team turned its focus to Friday's season opener when the Gators host Graceville. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Baker Coach Matt Brunson said there were no surprises in the win over the Royals.

"It was a typical Kickoff Classic setting," he said. "Everybody got to play. We are proud of everybody's efforts, and in our varsity half we were able to scratch out a 14-0 win.

"We forced a couple of turnovers and ground it out offensively. I felt like we did what we went over there to do, and we looked good doing it. Hopefully, we can build on the momentum that success brought us."

The Gators scored on an 11-yard pass from Jon Beck to Kodi Moen in the third quarter. D.J. Thomas scored on a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter.

"We only gave up one first down and 30-something yards," Brunson said. "They only had something like 14 offensive plays, and we grounded out 37 plays."

The Gators can't let up against a tough Tiger squad that went 8-3 last season and won the District 2-1A title.

"Ty Wise, who was the offensive coordinator over at Northview, is the head coach at Graceville now," Brunson said. "They won their district and got beat by Freeport in the first round (of the playoffs). He's got everybody back and they are going to be a very tough, athletic opponent.

"They are a double-wing, grind it out (team), kind of like the Northview attack. They have good size and very good skills. If they do what they've done on film, it should be a fast paced, grind-it-out attack by both groups."

It's important for Baker’s defense to keep the Tigers from getting to the outside, where they can use their speed advantage, Brunson said.

"When we get them contained, we have to have our inside linebackers and free safeties run into the alleys (the inside running lanes) and tackle them because we've had trouble containing Northview," he said. "Graceville has the same type speed to get outside and they can go a long ways.

"We've just to limit mistakes, not turn the ball over and contain those guys. If we do things, we have a chance to be successful. Our people are excited and ready for some football Friday night, and I think it will be a good one against a quality opponent."

WHAT: High school football

WHO: Graceville at Baker

WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday

Randy Dickson is the Crtview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524.